Dear APUMC Family,

Stepping into this role as your Associate Pastor has already been such a blessing. I have smiled countless smiles over the past few weeks, and I am forever grateful for how you have made Evan and I feel right at home! When I say I prayed for you before I met you, I mean it wholeheartedly. You are truly an answer to prayers I have been praying for years, and I am beyond excited for this opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord alongside you.

I shared my story (God’s story) with you on Sunday, but I thought it would be fun to include a few additional “get to know me” tidbits in this newsletter:       

• I grew up in Alexander City, Alabama and attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama for my undergraduate studies (majored in Religion and minored in English). I moved to Enterprise, Alabama after graduation where I was the Director of Student Ministries at St. Luke United Methodist Church for five years.
• Family means the world to me! My mom and dad have always been my biggest fans. You will hopefully get to meet them on Sunday! My younger brother Brady is 23, and he is my hero!
• Sports were a big part of my life growing up. I played second base and pitched on my softball team. I earned the nickname “Smiley,” because I always had a smile on my face…even when our coach was making us run laps for losing a game.
• I married my best friend on December 14, 2024. I thank God every single day for Evan. He is my sunshine!
• I began Duke Divinity School’s hybrid program in August 2021 and graduated with my Master of Divinity in May!
• “Coffee” is practically my middle name. I was even known as “Jennamon Coffee” on my college campus, because you could always find me with a cinnamon coffee in hand! Although only a few people still call me “Jennamon,” my love for coffee has not changed. Let me know if you ever want to grab a cup with me!
• Fun fact: I can say the ABC’s backwards (not particularly useful, but I think it is cool)!
• I enjoy going on long walks, reading, and writing poetry. Evan and I also love going to the beach and playing tennis together.
• My favorite Bible verse is 2 Timothy 1:7. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

One final fun fact: Pastor Darren shared at my reception that he and I first met when he was one of my candidacy mentors in the fall of 2021. He also kindly added that he “made a note to self that I would make a fantastic Associate for some fortunate clergy one day.” What Pastor Darren does not know is that I, too, made a note in my notebook about how incredible it would be to partner in ministry with my mentors one day. I remember admiring how they communicated God’s Truths with gentleness, clarity, and grace as well as how their words reflected Christ’s love. I looked forward to learning from them each week on Zoom, and I was sad when our sessions ended. I would have never imagined that four years later I would be serving alongside Pastor Darren and partnering in ministry with Rev. Sheila Bates (our District Superintendent and my other candidacy mentor)! Such a God story!

Being your Associate Pastor is a gift from God. It is a privilege to walk alongside you in faith, to serve, to grow, and to celebrate all the ways God is moving in this community. I genuinely look forward to hearing your stories, learning from you, and building relationships that reflect the love of Christ. To God be the glory!

With joy,

Jennifer